A federal investigation recovered $170,000 in back wages and liquidated damages after the operator of two Austin restaurants denied 17 kitchen workers overtime pay.
Two investigations by the department’s Wage and Hour Division revealed that the operator of Biryani-N-Grill’s two locations originally paid the workers, who labored 60 hours a week, a flat salary and claimed they were not eligible for overtime. He then submitted falsified documents to make it seem like he paid them the back wages even though he did not. The company also failed to keep accurate records as required by law.
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in Austin said the operator had to pay the back wages and damages back by Sept. 1, 2021. The financial recovery came after he failed to do so.
“Restaurant workers provided essential service and supported the economy throughout the worst of the pandemic, and still its industry’s workers – and their families – are victimized by their employer’s wage theft,” said Wage and Hour Division Southwest Regional Administrator Betty Campbell. “The U.S. Department of Labor will vigorously pursue corrective action to hold violators responsible, deter future violations and prevent violators from cheating their competitors.
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